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Star Wars: Episode IX Taps Keri Russell For Mystery Role

Variety brings word today that Keri Russell, star of The Americans, Mission: Impossible and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, has clinched a mystery role in the J.J. Abrams threequel. And not a moment too soon, as filming is due to begin in the United Kingdom later this month.

Russell had previously collaborated with Abrams on Mission: Impossible III back in 2006, and we understand this is her first major foray into a Star Wars movie. The question, really, is whether she’ll find herself amongst the Resistance, or joining the ranks of the First Order.

One thing’s for sure: Variety states that Abrams and Lucasfilm executives had been meeting with several actresses for the role over the past two months, before ultimately settling on Russell just prior to the July 4th holiday in America. That tells us that this is much more than a fleeting bit part for Keri Russell – fitting, really, given her engrossing performance in The Americans.

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Variety’s scoop also mentions the fact that J.J. Abrams and his team will likely add another two major stars before production commences at the end of July, so keep your peepers peeled for further casting intel.

Pitched as the third and final chapter in Lucasfilm’s Sequel Trilogy, and the overall finale for the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode IX is currently bound for a release in December of 2019. We’ll be bringing you all the latest as J.J. Abrams begins to locate his ensemble cast and remember, only 532 days to go!